Maymont Engagement Photo Session

The Italian Gardens at Maymont are the perfect location for a dramatic engagement session.

When I met Danielle and Jesse at the Farmville Wedding Expo last winter, we chatted for a while and I shared my portfolio with them. Even though the event was casual, I could tell Danielle and Jesse had an appreciation for fashion and I always get excited for sessions with couples who have a unique sense of style. As with most large events like that, you never know who will truly connect with you and who will toss your business card in the pile of forgotten connections when they get home. A few months after the expo, Danielle reached out to inquire about an engagement session with the theme of Beauty and the Beast, and after considering a few location options, they picked Maymont in Richmond, Virginia.

Much to my surprise, Maymont no longer requires a photographer's fee, so we were able to confirm that the Italian Gardens were available that day and marked our calendars for what would turn out to be an incredibly warm July day. (It was a weekday, so we were very fortunate that it wasn't too crowded.)

We met there in the morning to be ready when the gates opened, and it was already quite balmy. Thankfully, I had brought a few portable fans for Danielle and Jesse, and that helped to keep the sweat at bay. If I were to teach a class on how to take care of your clients, keeping them cool during a hot summer shoot with a portable fan will knock their socks off every time! (Not to mention make your job easier when it comes to editing sweat marks out of photos...)

I had arranged with a florist the week before the shoot to pick up two single red roses the evening before the session as a surprise for the couple. The red rose is essential to the story of Beauty and the Best, so I figured it would be a fun touch, and it really "popped" in the photos! The roses turned out to be a hit, and effortlessly pulled the yellow and blue together from the dress and the suit.

The Pergola in the Italian Gardens is a gorgeous spot to shoot.

The vines under the Pergola create texture and provide a colorful backdrop for a cute kiss

A closeup of the ring and the rose

Danielle with her red rose- she stayed cool during this summer session

Jesse made sure we got a peek at his watch, a modern and classic timepiece

Take the time to smell the roses, both in your relationship and in life!

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Once we had captured the magic of the Beauty and the Beast-inspired portion of the session, we moved to the decorative gazebo nearby. This gazebo was imported from Italy at the turn of the 20th century, and was designed in the classical style of 15th and 16th century Italian garden architecture. It is so incredible that the general public has access to this beautiful setting any time we want to visit- what a privilege!

Danielle's grey satin gown was the perfect complement to Jesse's grey suit jacket and white pants. Between the effortless style of the couple and the gorgeous setting of the gazebo, these photos were so easy to compose. We had to work fast because the afternoon heat was fast approaching, but it was worth it for these incredible shots at this Maymont engagement photo session!

The gazebo at the Maymont Italian Gardens is an elegant setting for a gorgeous gown

The red rose was the perfect touch for the romantic setting of the Maymont gazebo

A close up of the red rose and the emerald engagement ring Danielle changed into

What a perfect day for a session at Maymont!

If you would like to chat about booking your own engagement session, please reach out! If you love the photos, feel free to leave a comment and let us know! We would love to hear from you.